Making banh loc to raise funds to help the poor

One heart

On August 3, 2025, 5 members of Tan Lap Charity Association traveled more than 130km to Hue Central Hospital to visit, encourage, and give 44 million VND to the families of Mr. Pham Hoa and Mr. Hoang Dinh Lam Phuong, both residing in Tan Lap commune.

Recently, while cleaning the boiler, Mr. Hoa and Mr. Phuong unfortunately suffered burns all over their bodies. The accident pushed two poor families to the brink of death. Their relatives did not know how to get money for emergency treatment and medicine.

“Knowing the situation, we made banh loc together to sell to raise funds and mobilize support from benefactors. In one day, with the contribution of 60 people, 300kg of flour was made into cakes. We spent all the money from the sale to support Mr. Hoa and Mr. Phuong's families,” said Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Hoa , representative of Tan Lap Charity Association.

According to Ms. Thanh Hoa, this is not the first time Tan Lap Charity Association has made banh loc to raise funds to help people in difficulty and misfortune. This activity has been carried out since 2 years ago, since the association was first established.

All born and raised in poverty, members of the Tan Lap Charity Association understand the anxiety and helplessness of the poor when they encounter adversity. Therefore, they have united together to help those who are left behind due to hardship.

Knowing that it was impossible to maintain charity activities by relying solely on charitable organizations and individuals, members of the Tan Lap Charity Association struggled to find ways to raise funds. While they were hesitating, they suddenly thought of the delicious and famous Banh Loc dish in their hometown. The idea of making Banh Loc to raise funds for charity was born from here and received consensus and high response.

To turn the idea into reality, members of Tan Lap Charity Association have established rules and regulations and contributed funds. Each month, members meet at least 3 times to make and sell cakes to raise funds.

Members of Tan Lap Charity Association and volunteers wrap cakes to raise funds to help people in need - Photo: TL

With the desire to create a unique flavor for their cakes, the women spent a lot of time researching how to make fillings, dipping sauces, etc. In the group, each member is a diligent shipper. In case they cannot participate in the activity, some members happily contribute their own money.

Tan Lap Charity Association currently has 20 members. However, each time the charity cake wrapping activity is organized, the number of participants is 2-3 times larger. Knowing that the group is doing charity work, some traders at the market enthusiastically contribute by donating or selling ingredients at reasonable prices.

Every time a house is chosen to make cakes, the surrounding neighbors rush to visit, contributing bottles of fish sauce, packages of chili, cans of oil, etc. Not only do they buy cakes, some people also generously support them with cash. These sentiments help the group members have more motivation, forgetting all the hardships.

Help people without waiting

Tan Lap Volunteer Association members come from many different ages, occupations, backgrounds, personalities, etc. Some members are still facing difficulties. Seeing them devote their time and effort to Tan Lap Volunteer Association’s activities, some people have their say and their opinions.

Each time like that, the sisters encouraged each other to ignore negative thoughts. Everyone determined that volunteering is a daily task, cannot be delayed or waited for. Each time successfully supporting someone, the members are happy as if they were the ones being helped.

As always, whenever they hear that someone in the commune or neighboring areas is in trouble, members of the Tan Lap Charity Association go there to find out about the situation. When they return, they meet and discuss appropriate ways to support them.

To date, the association has helped hundreds of disadvantaged people through fundraising baking activities. Each case is associated with a meaningful story of humanity. Thanks to the association’s support, many poor patients who have had accidents or illnesses have received financial support for hospital fees; lonely elderly people no longer have to “eat today, worry about tomorrow’s meal”; disabled children have hearing aids…

In addition to emergency support, members of the association also give Tet gifts to the poor; support people affected by natural disasters; support students in disadvantaged areas...

Not only focusing on fundraising activities, Tan Lap Charity Association members also actively spread kindness. They enthusiastically went to some schools to help students experience making banh loc, thereby sowing the seeds of kindness in them. Thanks to that, the association's "human resources" were also more abundant.

In addition to the children of the association members, many students in the area also volunteered to make cakes to raise funds in their free time. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, a member of Tan Lap Charity Association, said: “As a teacher, I understand the meaning of sowing the seeds of kindness in children’s hearts. I believe that the children will be the ones to continue this small but meaningful work.”

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, President of the Women's Union of Tan Lap Commune, said that although life is still difficult, members of the Tan Lap Charity Association still put aside calculations of loss and gain to help people. That spirit and the silent work of the women have been spreading in Tan Lap Commune, creating motivation for everyone to live a good life.

“Myself and other association officials often arrange work to visit, prepare ingredients, wrap cakes, ship goods, etc. with the sisters. Hopefully, Tan Lap Charity Association will develop more and more, becoming a support for the poor,” said Ms. Nhan.

Tay Long

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202508/lam-banh-loc-gay-quy-giup-nguoi-ngheo-b3d023d/